Utah State QB Chuckie Keeton should test Vols defense

KNOXVILLE – Butch Jones was asked at his press conference Tuesday whether Tennessee is better equipped to deal with a mobile quarterback than it was a year ago.

Jones’ response: “We will find out in a hurry.”

The second-year Tennessee football coach could have just as easily copied and pasted that answer for most of the questions he faced this week leading up to Sunday’s season opener (SEC Network, 6 p.m.) against Utah State in Neyland Stadium.

Keeton is as dangerous as any of them. As a sophomore in 2012, he threw for 3,373 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 619 yards and a score. He was on his way to similar, if not greater, numbers in 2013 (1,388 passing yards and 18 touchdowns in six games) before tearing two ligaments in his left knee and ending his season. He’s back to 100 percent, and Utah State’s athletic department has responded by launching a Heisman campaign.